The current system has more than 100 auto insurers doing business in North Carolina proposing a common rate increase.

Goodwin says most people don’t know that companies can decide they don’t want to insure a driver’s liability. That risk is transferred to a pool and every driver pays a hidden surcharge to cover the costs. The companies can charge higher prices for damage or other parts of the policy.

State regulators say the surcharge averages $13 a year per driver and pays for a system that prevents companies from jacking up rates.